# cave

/ˈkeɪv/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cave
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. natural underground cavity

noun · CEFR A2

a large, natural hole in the side of a hill, a cliff, or under the ground.

For teachers: a naturally occurring underground chamber or series of chambers, typically formed by the weathering of rock.

- The hikers took shelter in a small cave when the storm began.
- Archaeologists discovered ancient paintings deep within the limestone cave, preserved for millennia by the stable environment.

### 2. a place of retreat

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a private room or space where someone goes to relax or be alone.

For teachers: a metaphorical or literal place of seclusion or retreat, often used in the compound 'man cave'.

- He turned the basement into a hobby cave where he could build model planes.
- After a long week at the office, he retreated to his basement cave to listen to records in peace.

### 3. to surrender

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to stop resisting someone's demands or to give up during an argument.

For teachers: to yield or submit to pressure, opposition, or a request; often used with the particle 'in'.

- The manager finally caved and gave the employees a longer lunch break.
- Under intense scrutiny from the press, the senator eventually caved to public pressure and resigned his position.

### 4. to collapse

verb · CEFR B2

to fall inward or down suddenly.

For teachers: to undergo a structural failure resulting in an inward collapse; usually used with 'in'.

- The old roof caved in after the heavy snowfall.
- Engineers warned that the tunnel might cave in if the support beams were not reinforced immediately.

## Examples

- The hikers found a small cave to stay dry during the storm.
- Explorers discovered ancient paintings deep inside the cave that had been hidden for thousands of years.
- The limestone cave system extends for several miles beneath the forest floor, featuring intricate rock formations and underground rivers that remain largely unmapped by modern geologists.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.